confidential

[ kon-fi-den-shuhl ]

adjective

1. spoken, written, acted on, etc., in strict privacy or secrecy; secret:

   a confidential remark.

   Synonyms: private, restricted

2. indicating confidence or intimacy; imparting private matters:

   a confidential tone of voice.

   Synonyms: familiar, intimate

3. having another's trust or confidence; entrusted with secrets or private affairs:

   a confidential secretary.

   Synonyms: private, trustworthy

4. (of information, a document, etc.)
   1. bearing the classification confidential, usually being above restricted and below secret.
   2. limited to persons authorized to use information, documents, etc., so classified. Compare classification ( def 5 ).

confidential

/ ˌkɒnfɪˈdɛnʃəl /

adjective

1. spoken, written, or given in confidence; secret; private
2. entrusted with another's confidence or secret affairs

   a confidential secretary

3. suggestive of or denoting intimacy

   a confidential approach

Derived Forms

• ˌconfiˌdentiˈality, noun
• ˌconfiˈdentially, adverb

Other Words From

• confi·denti·ali·ty confi·dential·ness noun
• confi·dential·ly adverb
• noncon·fi·dential adjective
• noncon·fi·dential·ly adverb
• noncon·fi·dential·ness noun
• noncon·fi·denti·ali·ty noun
• quasi-confi·dential adjective
• quasi-confi·dential·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of confidential¹

First recorded in 1645–55; from Latin confīdenti(a) confidence + -al ¹

Synonym Study

See familiar.

Example Sentences

A year later, the suit ended in a settlement, the details of which remain confidential.

From The Daily Beast

The provision of confidential details to the IG does not mean that they will be publicly released.

From The Daily Beast

Now the Supreme Leader has thrown the confidential details out into the open and marked his line in the sand.

From The Daily Beast

In recent months Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has insisted on keeping the negotiating details confidential.

From The Daily Beast

But L.A. Confidential was important for temporarily resuscitating film noir.

From The Daily Beast

Nine lusty-lunged adults in that one room prohibited confidential speech.

From Project Gutenberg

As soon as Michael made sure of the duel, he saw his confidential clerk.

From Project Gutenberg

It emboldens me to ask another favor—that you will regard what I have told you of my plans as confidential.

From Project Gutenberg

He entreated her to bear in mind that the disclosures of the afternoon were strictly confidential.

From Project Gutenberg

Amongst well-bred persons, every conversation is considered in a measure confidential.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• classified
• hush-hush
• intimate
• private